Sailed off Brighton for the first time on Saturday. As you all know the wind was insane.
I just want to say a big thanks to the guy who rescued my new board for me. I was in the water when the biggest wave I have ever seen in Port Philip Bay broke right on top of me. I went through a couple of spin cycles and ended up holding the the mast but without my board attached The North / Euro style mast base pin had come apart. Managed to put them back together in the water.

Question, are the Chinook double pin style bases better for this kind of sailing?

I know of a few people that (in the old days of 2002 or so) would have their pins snap off due to crappy steel or due to poor workmanship - I cant say that I know if the cup-style is stronger.

I had the bolt joining the Boge joint version shear off once when i got clobbered by a monster wave at Coronation (W.A) once, necessitating a big swim. Its kinda funny coming up from the wave, thinking you've got your gear, only to see the board happily surfing off towards the beach on its own and you've only got a rig in your hands.

Then again, everything held firm in the biggest rinse cycle of my life at Sandy point (Waratah Bay) once - wave was well over mast high. Think anything can break if its hit the right/wrong way. Case in point... Saturday one guy i know broke the nose of his board - with his elbow!